PHOENIX -- (May 30, 2014) Eight, Arizona PBS will celebrate America’s birthday with the country’s most patriotic Independence Day party during its 34th annual broadcast of A Capitol Fourth on July 4 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Eight. Tom Bergeron, the two-time Emmy Award-winning television personality (Dancing with the Stars), returns for the third year to host the nation’s favorite 4th of July tradition, featuring a star-studded concert and the biggest and brightest fireworks display anywhere in the country. Twenty television cameras will be stationed around the stage on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to capture the sights and sounds of the concert, making at-home viewers and U.S. troops serving around the world watching via the American Forces Network feel like they are front and center for the show.

The top-rated extravaganza will feature Frankie Valli, an American icon who transcends generations. With his signature falsetto voice and countless hits, Valli has been successfully touring and making music for more than 50 years, both as a solo artist and as the lead singer of the Four Seasons. Today, the Tony-winning musical, Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Valli and his legendary group, has made classics such as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Sherry” and “My Eyes Adored You” the rage all over again.

The program will also include performances by Grammy Award-winning music legend Patti LaBelle, multi-platinum recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks, five-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Michael McDonald, country music superstar Sara Evans, singer-songwriter Kendall Schmidt from Big Time Rush and Heffron Drive and five-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway star Kelli O'Hara.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of America’s national anthem, five-time Academy Award-winning composer John Williamswill conduct a special new arrangement for orchestra and chorus of the "Star Spangled Banner" with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Joint Armed Forces Chorus, the Choral Arts Society of Washington and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

The show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” complete with live cannon fire provided by The United States Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and a tradition of A Capitol Fourth.

The broadcast is made possible by grants from The Boeing Company, the National Park Service, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Department of the Army, PBS and public television viewers nationwide. Air travel is provided by American Airlines.

About Eight, Arizona PBS

Eight, Arizona PBS is a trusted community resource. For over 52 years, the PBS station has focused on educating children, reporting in-depth on public affairs, fostering lifelong learning and celebrating arts and culture. Eight achieves its mission through the power of non-commercial television, the Internet, educational outreach and community-based initiatives. Its signal reaches 80 percent of the homes in Arizona. With more than 1 million viewers weekly, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. For more information, visit azpbs.org.

Eight is a member-supported community service of Arizona State University.